Leiden University Student Repository

Klewes, Ann-Kristin (2023)

Biting off more than one can chew? The effect of distracted eating and emotional eating on subsequent consumption

Master thesis | Psychology (MSc)

Background: Distraction and emotions have been proven to affect eating behavior. Design: In this online study, 120 participants were randomly assigned to one of three distraction conditions whilst eating lunch, after which a covert snacking period was implemented. Lastly, participants filled out a subset of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire on emotional eating. Research questions: With this experiment I investigated whether distracted eating increases subsequent consumption (H1), and whether emotional eating moderates that relationship (H2). Results: Distracted eating did not increase subsequent snacking, and the distraction conditions did not significantly differ from one another (H1). Emotional eating did not moderate this relationship (H2). Conclusion: Neither distracted eating or emotional eating (as a moderator) showed a significant impact on subsequent eating, and limitations concerning the design and sample of the study and alternative explanations are discussed.

Author

Klewes, Ann-Kristin

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Social and Organisational Psychology

Supervisors

Meer, F. van

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en